CBSE Class 6 Science Chapter 9 Methods of Separation in Everyday Life Worksheet with Answers

Quick Chapter Recap: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life

• Threshing: beating dried crops to separate seeds from stalks and husks
• Winnowing: using air currents to blow away lighter components
• Sieving: separating by particle size using a mesh or perforated container
• Filtration: passing liquid through a barrier to trap solids
• Sedimentation and decantation: letting solids settle, then pouring off clear liquid
• Evaporation: heating to turn liquid into vapor, leaving dissolved solids behind
• Magnetic separation: using magnets to pull out magnetic materials like iron

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) — 1 Mark Each

• Q1. Which method is used to separate grain seeds from their stalks? (a) Winnowing (b) Threshing (c) Sieving (d) Filtration
• Q2. Winnowing is based on the difference in: (a) Size (b) Colour (c) Weight and density (d) Solubility
• Q3. Which of the following mixtures can be separated by using a magnet? (a) Sand and salt (b) Iron filings and sulphur powder (c) Sugar and water (d) Oil and water
• Q4. To obtain clear water from muddy water, the best combination of methods is: (a) Evaporation and filtration (b) Sedimentation and decantation (c) Winnowing and sieving (d) Threshing and filtration
• Q5. Salt can be obtained from seawater by the process of: (a) Sedimentation (b) Filtration (c) Evaporation (d) Decantation
• Q6. A tea strainer is an example of: (a) Threshing (b) Winnowing (c) Sieving (d) Evaporation

Section B: Fill in the Blanks — 1 Mark Each

• Q7. The process of beating harvested crops to separate grains from stalks is called __________.
• Q8. __________ is used to separate lighter husk from heavier grains using wind.
• Q9. A mixture of sand and water can be separated by __________ followed by decantation.
• Q10. The solid left behind on the filter paper after filtration is called the __________.
• Q11. Common salt is obtained from seawater by the process of __________.
• Q12. Iron nails can be separated from a mixture of sand by using a __________.

Section C: True or False Statements — 1 Mark Each

• Q13. Filtration is used to separate two solids of different sizes.
• Q14. Decantation is the process of pouring out clear liquid without disturbing the settled solid at the bottom.
• Q15. Evaporation can be used to separate a mixture of sand and water.
• Q16. Magnetic separation works only for materials that are attracted to a magnet, like iron.
• Q17. Sieving can separate dissolved salt from water.
• Q18. Threshing and winnowing are both used in agriculture to clean harvested grains.

Section D: Short Answer Questions — 2 Marks Each

• Q19. What is winnowing? Give one example of its use in daily life.
• Q20. How is filtration different from sieving?
• Q21. Why is evaporation a suitable method to obtain salt from seawater?
• Q22. Explain the process of sedimentation and decantation with an example.
• Q23. How would you separate a mixture of sand, common salt, and iron filings? Write the steps briefly.

Section E: Long Answer and HOTS Questions — 3 to 4 Marks Each

• Q24. A mixture contains sand, salt, and small pebbles. Describe in detail the steps you would follow to separate all three components. Justify the choice of each method.
• Q25. Explain the principle behind magnetic separation. Give two practical applications of this method in industry or daily life.
• Q26. (HOTS) Suppose you have muddy water and you want clean drinking water as quickly as possible. Which two methods would you use in sequence, and why? Discuss the advantages and limitations of your chosen approach.

Section F: Case Study Question — 4 Marks

Answer Key with Explanations

• Section A Answers: Q1(b) Threshing — beating is used to separate seeds from stalks; Q2(c) Weight and density — wind blows lighter husk, heavy seeds fall; Q3(b) Iron filings and sulphur powder — iron is magnetic, sulphur is not; Q4(b) Sedimentation and decantation — mud settles, clear water is poured off; Q5(c) Evaporation — heating seawater turns water into vapor, leaving salt; Q6(c) Sieving — the strainer mesh traps tea leaves, allows liquid to pass through.
• Section B Answers: Q7. threshing; Q8. Winnowing; Q9. sedimentation (or filtration); Q10. residue; Q11. evaporation; Q12. magnet.
• Section C Answers: Q13. False — filtration separates solid from liquid, not two solids; Q14. True; Q15. False — evaporation separates dissolved solid from liquid, not suspended sand; Q16. True; Q17. False — sieving separates by size, not solubility; Q18. True.
• Section D Answers: Q19. Winnowing is using wind or air to blow away lighter components from a mixture. Farmers use it to separate husk from grains after threshing. Q20. Filtration separates insoluble solid from liquid using a porous barrier, while sieving separates two solids of different sizes using a mesh. Filtration needs liquid; sieving works on dry mixtures. Q21. Seawater is a solution of salt in water. When heated, water evaporates into vapor and escapes, leaving solid salt crystals behind, which can be collected easily. Q22. In sedimentation, heavy solid particles settle at the bottom when left undisturbed; in decantation, the clear liquid is poured off without disturbing the sediment. Example: muddy water left in a glass settles mud at the bottom; clear water is poured out. Q23. First, use a magnet to remove iron filings (magnetic separation). Then add water and stir to dissolve salt. Filter to remove sand (residue); salt solution passes through. Finally, evaporate the filtrate to get salt crystals back.
• Section E Answers: Q24. Step 1: Use a sieve to separate pebbles (largest) from sand and salt (both smaller particles pass through). Step 2: Add water to the sand-salt mixture and stir well; salt dissolves, sand does not. Step 3: Filter the mixture; sand remains as residue on the filter paper, salt solution (filtrate) passes through. Step 4: Evaporate the filtrate by heating; water turns into vapor, leaving behind solid salt crystals. Justification: Sieving works because pebbles are much larger than sand and salt; filtration separates insoluble sand from salt solution; evaporation recovers dissolved salt. Each method targets a specific physical property, ensuring efficient separation. Q25. Magnetic separation exploits the fact that materials like iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt are attracted to magnets, while most other materials (plastic, wood, sand, glass, copper) are not. A magnet is brought near or passed through the mixture; magnetic materials cling to it and are physically removed, leaving the rest behind. Practical application 1: In recycling plants, electromagnets are used to pull iron and steel cans out of mixed waste, allowing plastic, paper, and glass to be processed separately, improving efficiency and reducing manual labour. Practical application 2: Food processing units use magnetic separators to detect and remove any stray iron pieces or nails that might have accidentally entered grain or flour, protecting consumers from injury and maintaining product quality. Q26. For muddy water, I would use sedimentation followed by filtration. First, let the muddy water stand undisturbed in a container for 15 to 30 minutes; heavy mud particles will settle to the bottom (sedimentation). Then, carefully pour or siphon off the clearer water from the top (decantation) into another container. This water may still contain very fine suspended particles, so I would filter it through a clean cloth or filter paper to trap any remaining impurities, giving clear water suitable for drinking after boiling. Advantages: Sedimentation requires no equipment and removes bulk mud quickly; filtration ensures fine particles are also removed. Limitations: Sedimentation takes time; filtration can be slow if mud is very fine and clogs the filter; neither method removes dissolved salts or microbes, so boiling is still necessary for safety.
• Section F Case Study Answers: (a) Evaporation causes water to disappear from the ponds. The sun's heat provides energy for water molecules to escape into the air as vapor. (1 mark) (b) Ramesh should first use sieving to remove larger stones and coarse sand from the salt. Then he can dissolve the remaining salt in a little water, filter to remove fine sand (residue), and evaporate the filtrate again to get pure salt crystals. (2 marks) (c) He should use magnetic separation first by using a magnet to attract and remove the iron nails, because iron is magnetic and will stick to the magnet, allowing quick and easy removal without wasting water or heat. (1 mark)

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Tips for Scoring Full Marks in Chapter 9 Questions

• Understand the principle of each method — why it works, what property it exploits, and when it is suitable.
• Practice identifying mixture types and matching them to the correct separation technique quickly.
• Draw and label diagrams neatly for filtration, sieving, and evaporation setups; diagrams often carry 1-2 marks.
• Use flowcharts and step-by-step written procedures for complex multi-method separation problems.
• Revise NCERT in-text and end-of-chapter questions; they form the backbone of most CBSE exam questions.
• Time yourself while solving worksheets to build exam speed and manage the 60-minute paper efficiently.